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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Cluster Headache in Women: report
        
(Message started by: Bob_Johnson on Mar 25^th, 2007, 11:34am)

Title: Cluster Headache in Women: report
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 25^th, 2007, 11:34am

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001 May;70(5):613-7.

Cluster headache in women: clinical characteristics and comparison with cluster headache in men.

Rozen TD, Niknam RM, Shechter AL, Young WB, Silberstein SD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas University Hospital, Gibbon Building, Suite 8130, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. todd.rozen@mail.tju.edu

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of cluster headache in women. Cluster headache is a disorder of men (male to female ratio 6-7:1). METHODS: Retrospective chart review to identify all women diagnosed with cluster headache at an academic headache centre from January 1995 through July 1998. RESULTS: Thirty two women and 69 men were identified. The mean age of onset of cluster headache was 29.4 years in women versus 31.3 years in men. Two peaks of onset in women (2nd and 5th decade) were identified compared with one in men (3rd decade). Episodic cluster headache was present in 75% of women and 77% of men. Women and men had on average 3 attacks a day, but attack duration was shorter in women (67.2 minutes v 88.2 minutes). Cluster headache period duration (11.1 weeks v 10 weeks) and remission periods (21.1 months v 23.1 months) were similar in women and men. Miosis and ptosis seemed to be less common in women (miosis 13.3% v 24.6%, ptosis 41.9% v 58.1%) whereas lacrimation and nasal congestion/rhinorrhoea were almost equally prevalent in women and men. Women had more nausea than men (62.5% v 43.5%, p=0.09) and significantly more vomiting (46.9% v 17.4%, p=0.003). Photophobia occurred in 75% of women and 81.2% of men, and phonophobia occurred in 50% of women and 47.8% of men. CONCLUSIONS: THE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CLUSTER HEADACHE IN WOMEN ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE IN MEN. WOMEN DEVELOP THE DISORDER AT AN EARLIER AGE OF ONSET AND EXPERIENCE MORE "MIGRAINOUS SYMPTOMS" WITH CLUSTER HEADACHE, ESPECIALLY VOMITING. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FREQUENT PHOTOPHOBIA AND PHONOPHOBIA WITH CLUSTER HEADACHE ATTACKS. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HEADACHE SOCIETY CLUSTER HEADACHE CRITERIA, SUGGESTING THE NEED FOR POSSIBLE CRITERIA REVISION.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 11309454

Title: Re: Cluster Headache in Women: report
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 25^th, 2007, 3:30pm

Very interesting. I do have the nausea and vomiting but I tought it was related to the strong medication. I do not have the light and sound sensitivity.

Title: Re: Cluster Headache in Women: report
Post by Gator on Mar 25^th, 2007, 8:36pm

Thanks Bob. For anyone interested, the entire article can be found at:

http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/70/5/613

More about articles about women and ch can be found at:

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/womenandch.htm

Title: Re: Cluster Headache in Women: report
Post by burnt-toast on Mar 26^th, 2007, 7:15am

I’ve never vomited but have to admit to sometimes getting a slight/momentary queasy feeling right between the peak of my most severe hits and their withdrawal period. This is not common but it has happened, but then again with high-level hits I frequently need to remind myself to just breathe so I can’t be sure what contribution sporadic breathing has in this situation.

I've never personally experienced sensitivity to light or sound regardless of the severity level of hits. I admit that I can't stand to be around people and particularly people talking during severe hits - but believe it's more of a heightened level of agitation than anything else.

Sounds like music, the TV, dishwasher, etc. no problem. I just have to do my pacing away from people and in particular people talking even if they’re just talking on the phone. If I could pick a breaking point I’d have to say that this behavior doesn’t occur with hits KIP-6 or below.

Not sure if this qualifies as an issue with sound or it’s just anti-social behavior attributed to severe attacks.

Tom

Title: Re: Cluster Headache in Women: report
Post by swimchica623 on Mar 26^th, 2007, 12:38pm

That's interesting. I get nauseated sometimes during hits but I've always thought that's because pain in general always makes me pretty nauseus...didn't say anything about appetite loss but after a hit I lose my appetite for awhile too just because of the pain. So I never thought of the nausea being an extra symptom of the ha, just a response to the pain I was feeling.
I'm not really light or sound sensitive with a regular CH hit but I've had a few CH/migraine combos before that are pure hell and the migraines definatly make me light and sound sensitive and during those exposure to light and sound can make the cluster pain increase...like you'll be dealing with a migraine and a hit at the same time that might be an 8 and then if there is a noise it will be like your cluster turned into a 10. That's been the only time I've felt light/sound making my CHs worse.
Lisa